Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Jun 18: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed issues affecting the state such as shortage of coal for Karnataka's thermal power plant and also about the recently formed Cauvery Water Management Board (CMB) in New Delhi on Monday June 18.
Kumaraswamy on his visit to national capital also met Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari. He then visited Congress President Rahul Gandhi at his residence to discuss issues the coalition government faces.
Kumaraswamy was accompanied by Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) secretary general Danish Ali, while All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Congress K C Venugopal too was present during the meeting.
JD(S) sources said CM’s visit to Gandhi was a 'courtesy visit' and to also wish Gandhi who will be celebrating his birthday on June 19. They added that the Congress chief has assured full support to the Cong-JD(S) coalition.
It is important to note the Karnataka government had earlier opposed any move to form Cauvery Water Management Board. It had suggested the formation of Cauvery Decision Implementation Committee. The Supreme Court had ordered the central government to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) within six weeks of pronouncement of the order. However, the Centre has been criticised for failing to comply with the top court's order.
Karnataka will nominate representatives to Cauvery Board: CM Kumaraswamy
Karnataka will soon send to the Centre the names of its nominees in the Cauvery Water Management Board (CMB) and the Regulation Authority but it will have to address certain issues first, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Monday.
He told reporters that they have to abide by the Supreme Court judgement in the case relating to the sharing of Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
After meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari, he said issues related to the Board were among others taken up during the discussions.
"There were two or three technical issues regarding the setting up of the board which had to be sorted out before it starts functioning. I requested Water Resources Ministry to change two-three clauses and it has responded positively," Kumaraswamy said.
He said the state has expressed concerns over issues such as proposed revision of water quantity in the dams by the Board at the interval of 10 days, Board's directions on water release and to farmers on which crops to cultivate.
"That is impractical. It is not plausible for farmers to implement the directions. These are the issues I raised objections to," he said.
Earlier, he had reportedly said that Parliament should have discussed the matter and a resolution passed on the issue of setting up the Board.
Karnataka has been opposed to the setting up of the Board and prefers a negotiated solution to the vexed water sharing issue.
He said he had already released water to Tamil Nadu before it asked and he would have no problem in releasing Tamil Nadu its full-share if the monsoon is good.
On the issue of demand of 50 per cent share from the centre for farm loan-waiver, Kumaraswamy said "I requested the Prime Minister. But there was no specific assurance."
On the issue of backing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been on a dharna with his ministerial collegues at the residential office of Lt Governor Anil Baijal, the chief minister said it was being done in the interest of protecting democracy.
With IANS inputs